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Virginia hits four 3-pointers in final minute to stun Wake Forest

Kyle Ringo

No. 11 Virginia pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory Tuesday night at Wake Forest by hitting four 3-pointers in the final minute and three in the final 17 seconds to beat the Demon Deacons 72-71.

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Bryant Crawford made one of two free throws with four seconds remaining for Wake Forest, but the Demon Deacons didn't pressure the inbounds pass allowing UVA to move the ball up the court much too easily. The ball came to Darius Thompson on the left side of the court and he banked in a high-arcing 3-pointer at the buzzer to snap the Cavaliers' three-game losing streak on the road.

It was Thompson's first made 3-pointers since Dec. 22. He had been 0-for-7 since making one of two attempts against Cal just before Christmas. Virginia had been 1-for-13 behind the arc in the game prior to making four in the those final minute.

Thompson shouldn't have even had the opportunity for a game-winner but Wake Forest buckled under the pressure at the free throw line in the final minutes. It went just 19-for-29 at the free throw line, with seven of those missed free throws coming in the final 65 seconds.

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Malcom Brogdon hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute and Marial Shayok also buried a shot from deep to help the Cavaliers overcome what had been a nine-point lead with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining. Brogdon led all scorers with 28 points.

The result dropped Wake Forest to 10-10 overall and 1-7 in the ACC and gives the Cavaliers a shot of confidence when it comes to winning away from home. Virginia has been struggling to play the same level of defense on the road that it regularly plays at home.

The Cavaliers didn't necessarily overcome that problem in this win. Wake Forest had Virginia beat. The Cavaliers should have gone home with a fourth consecutive road loss, but they deserve credit for fighting, keeping themselves alive and finding a way to win, albeit, with significant help in the form of missed free throws by the Demon Deacons.

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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at kyle.ringo@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!